HIGH POINT, N.C. – UNCG fell behind 3-1 after the first inning, but it was all the Spartans from then on, thanks in part to a career-high six RBI from Trevor Edwards, as they defeated High Point, 12-4, on Tuesday evening at Williard Stadium.
Jonathan Jones (2-4) picked up the win after pitching 2 1/3 innings of relief for UNCG (28-18) and allowing no runs on three hits and striking out two batters. Nick Schumacher (0-1) was credited with the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in just a third of an inning.
Edwards went 3-5 for the Spartans with all three hits being doubles to knock in his career-high six runs. Eric Brindle also added a pair of doubles to knock in three runs. Leadoff hitter John Hein went 3-5 as well and was hit by a pitch as he scored four times on the night.
Ryan Retz provided the offense for the Panthers (21-27) as he went 3-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Kyle Mahoney added a pair of hits, as well.
The Spartans looked to be in business early as John Hein had a leadoff single in the top of the first and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Edwards delivered his first double of the evening later in the inning to score Hein and give UNCG a 1-0 lead.
High Point had an answer in the home half of the inning, though, as they plated three runs. Sal Pezzino led off with a walk and then was sacrificed over to second on a bunt. After another walk, Retz doubled down the left-field line to score Pezzino and tie the game at one.
The Panthers would add a sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Robbie Gilles to take a 3-1 lead after the first.
The score would stay that way until the top of the fifth when UNCG would tie the game. Hein led off with a single and moved over on another sacrifice bunt by Bobby Martin. Hein would move over to third on a fly out before scoring on an RBI single by Drew Gehringer. After stealing second, Gehringer scored on an RBI double by Brindle.
High Point would take the lead back for a second in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Retz to make it 4-3.
That lead wouldn't last long as the Spartans would put up five runs in the top of the sixth to take command of the game. Edwards and Brindle each had two-run doubles in the inning and Cody Walker added an RBI double of his own later in the inning to go ahead, 8-4.
The Spartans added to their lead in the top of the seventh when Zach Leach led off with a single and Hein and Martin were hit by pitches. Edwards then stepped to the plate and hit his third double of the game to left field to clear the bases and make it an 11-4 game.
UNCG would tack on one more run in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Cambric Moye to make the final score 12-4.
The Spartans will host The Citadel this weekend for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 6 p.m.
AGATE
UNCG 12, High Point 4
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UNCG................ 100 025 310 - 12 16 0 (28-18)
High Point.......... 300 010 000 - 4 8 2 (21-27)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Dylan Hathcock; Jonathan Jones(5); Jarett Miller(8); Warren Slack(9) and Zach Leach; Cambric Moye. High Point - PETILLI, Mike; SCHUMACHER, Nick(6); WIGMORE, Kyle(6); RODENBERG, Mikel(7); SCHILS, Steven(7) and TESSIER, Zach; MAHONEY, Kyle.
Win-Jonathan Jones(2-4) Loss-SCHUMACHER, Nick(0-1) T-3:11 A-611
Weather: 79 and mostly sunny
RODENBERG, M faced 1 batter in the 7th.
- UNCG -
